Ester of alpha-hydroxy isobutyric acid



' at 2 mm. pressure.

Patented May 8, 1945 Gaetano F. DAlelio, Northampton, and James 'W.

Underwood, Pittsfleld, Mass, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York No Drawing. Original application February 1, 1940, Serial No. 316,816. Divided and this application March 30, 1944, Serial No. 528,678

3 Claims. (Cl. 260-484) This application is a division of our copending' application Serial No. 310,816, filedFebruary .1, 1940, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

This invention relates to the production of the new chemical compound, 2-nitro-isobutyl alpha.- hydroxy isobutyrate. This compound, which also may be named 2-nitro-2-methylpropyl alphahydroxy isobutyrate, has the following formula:

1 mol alpha-hydroxy isobutyric acid 1.22 mol 2-nitro-isobutanol (2-nitro-2-methyl-1- propanol) V Benzene in an amount equal to twice the volume of the alpha-hydroxy lsobutyric acid and 2-nitro-isobutanol Concentrated sulfuric acid (esterification catalyst) in an amount equal to 2% byweight of the alpha-hydroxy isobutyric acid were mixed and refluxed for eight hours in a Dean and Stark apparatus for the continuous removal of water of esterification. The esterification product was neutralized by mixing with anhydrous sodium carbonate and then distilling the neutralized mass. The solvent (benzene) was distilled off at atmospheric pressure and. the excess alcohol at 60 to 100 C. under 2 mm. pressure. The 2-nitro-isobutanol ester of alpha-hydroxy isobutyric acid distilled at 111 to 115 C.

The following example illustrates the utilization of the 2-nitro-isobutyl alpha-hydroxy isobutyrate tor) was added to the mass in an amount equal to 1% by weight of the ester. The mixture was continuously stirred, the reaction being allowed to proceed at roomtemperature for 1% hours, and then was brought slowly to the refluxing (boiling) temperature of the massover a period of 1 hour. It was held just below boiling temperature for 1 hour, thereafter being refluxed for 3 hours. After filtering the reaction mass, the benzene was distilled ofi at atmospheric pressure and a crude distillate of 2-nitro-isobutyl methacrylate boil- (2 nitro 2 methylpropyl alpha-hydroxy isobutyrate) of Example 1 in the production of 2- nitro-isobutyl methacryiate (Z-nitr'o 2 methylpropyl methacrylate), which has the following formula:

cn,=c-- ":-'o- -,-cHi 6H: 1!: (1H3 Eaample 2 The-Z-nitro-isobutyl alpha-hydroxy lsobutyrate of Example 1 was dehydrated with P205 by adding 1 1 mol of the ester to 1 mol P205 suspended in'sufilcient benzene so that the mixture could be easily stirred. Hydroquinone (polymerization inhibi-- ing at 85 to 105 C. at 3 mm. pressure wasobtained. The impure esterwas' washed with a. 1% sodium hydroxide solution to remove any inhibitor and decomposition products, followed by. washing with hydrochloric acid and thereafter with water. The washed ester was dried over anhydrous sodium carbonate and then redistilled, yielding the purified ester, 2-nitro-isobutyl methacrylate boiling at to C. at 0.5 mm. pressure.

A sample of the 2-nitro-isobuty1 methacrylate' prepared asdescribed above polymerized, without added catalyst, after heating for 5 days at 50 C.'I

to a soft, rubbery, colorless mass. Upon pro longed heating, it was converted into ahard mass; With 0.1% by weight benzoyl peroxide the above ester polymerized to a hard, colorless mass in 2'7 hours.

What we claim as new and desire to secureby 7 Letters Patent of the United States is: '1. The compound having the following fore mula:

' 2. The process of preparing2-nitro-2-methylqpropyl alpha-hydroxy isobutyrate which com prises effecting reaction between alpha-hydrox-y isobutyric acid and 2-nitro-2-methyl-l-propanol.

3. The processs ,of preparing 2- nitro- 2-methy1- propyl alpha-hydroxy isobutyratev which com prises efiecting reaction between alpha-hydroxy isobutyric acid and 2-nitro-2-methyl-1-propanq1 in benzenesolution and while admixed with a small amount'of concentrated sulfuric acid as an esterification catalyst, neutralizing the reaction mass and separating 2 nitro 2 methylpropyl alpha-hyodroxy isobutyrate from the neutralized reaction mass by distillation.

' GAETANO F. DALELIO.

JAMES W. UNDERWOOD. 

